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How to Save Money

While making money can be hard, saving money tends to be even more difficult. With our consumer culture and the billion-dollar advertising industry constantly persuading us to buy more, money often flies out of our pockets before we have a chance to count it.

Saving and being frugal is not a sexy topic. However, cutting your costs can often mean that you will have money in the event of an emergency.

Money-Saving Tips
You can save money in a variety of ways. The methods you choose depend on your living situation. Here are a few suggestions:

• Analyze your spending patterns: Most people are unaware of how much money they fritter away on such things as ATM fees and late fees. Keeping track of how you spend can help you be aware of the small costs that prevent you from saving money.
  
  
• Automatically save bonuses or additional money: Some workers receive additional money in the form of bonuses and commissions. A great money-saving tip is to automatically put this money into your savings account.
  
  
• Avoid credit card late fees: Credit card late fees add up quickly. A great way to save money is to pay your credit card bills on time. Many credit card companies allow you to make payments online, saving you both time and the cost of a stamp.
  
  
• Consider public transportation: High gas prices have caused many Americans to look for ways to save on transportation costs. To save money on your commute, consider public transportation. Another way to save on gas prices is to join a car pool.
  
  
• Cut entertainment costs: Entertainment costs can be a huge expenditure that many people overlook. Yet, you can still find quality entertainment without spending a bunch of money. For example, if you want to go see a movie, why not take in an afternoon matinee instead of an evening show? You can save even further by waiting to see the movie until it comes out on DVD.
  
  
• Eat at home: Many people don't realize how much money they spend eating out. Consider this: By taking your lunch to work instead of eating out, you could save roughly $25 a week, which works out to $100 a month.
  
  
• Pay insurance annually: If possible, pay insurance premiums annually. Some insurers will charge you less if you choose to pay annually instead of monthly.
  
  
• Pay yourself: One way to quickly increase your savings is to put ten percent of your monthly income into your savings account. The best way to do this is to have ten percent of your check automatically deposited into your savings account.
  
  
• Shop around: You can save on big-ticket items by shopping around for deals. Check your local sales papers and also look online to find the best prices for expensive items such as TVs and cars. Rebates are a great way to save money too.